Robert Turkington

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Robert Wilkinson "Paddy" Turkington, DSO, DFC & Bar (1920–29 July 1945) was a Northern Irish fighter pilot in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. He became a flying ace with 9 confirmed kills (plus 3 shared, 1 probable) and several more damaged; some sources credit 11 kills.

Turkington joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in 1940 and trained as a pilot in Canada. He first served with No. 43 Squadron, flying Hawker Hurricanes and taking part in the Dieppe Raid in August 1942. He later fought over North Africa, then converted to the Spitfire in 1943 for missions over Sicily and Italy. By late 1943 he had become an ace and had logged hundreds of flying hours with 43 Squadron (about 766). He then served as a flight commander in No. 241 Squadron, shooting down four Bf 109s. From July 1944 to January 1945 he led No. 601 Squadron. After Victory in Europe, he was based in Italy with No. 241 Squadron.

Turkington received the Distinguished Flying Cross in January 1944, a Bar to the DFC in September 1944, and the Distinguished Service Order in April 1945. He was also awarded the 1939–1945 Star, Africa Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal and War Medal 1939–1945. His medals sold for about £22,000 in 2017.

Turkington was killed in a flying accident on 29 July 1945 and is buried at Padua War Cemetery in Italy.